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Lewiston enjoys an abundance of natural inland lakes that offer many opportunities to fish, swim, boat, water ski, kayak, canoe, jet ski or just plain relax. The most popular lakes are listed below. Public access is available on Avery Lake, Tee Lake, and East Twin.

Sales and service for your lake toys can be found at: Twin Lakes Marina, (2460 Fleming Rd, Lewiston, 989-786-2711) a full service marina, that sells and services boat motors and sells and rents pontoons and Lewiston Motor Sports, (4770 Salling Ave., 989-786-880) offers sales and service for jet skis.

Avery Lake is located in Montmorency County, Michigan. This lake is 180 acres in size. Anglers can expect to catch a variety of fish including Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rock Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye and Yellow Perch. Avery Lake is a designated "Family Friendly" lake by the Michigan DNR. Public access is available.

Big Bear Lake is located in Otsego County, Michigan. This lake is 350 acres in size. It is 36.00 feet deep at its deepest point. Anglers can expect to catch a variety of fish including Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Muskellunge (Muskie), Northern Pike, Rock Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Sunfish, Walleye and Yellow Perch.

East Twin Lake is located in Montmorency County, Michigan. This lake is 830 acres in size. It is 25.00 feet deep at its deepest point. Anglers can expect to catch a variety of fish including Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye and Yellow Perch. Public access is available.

Little Bear Lake is located in Otsego County, Michigan. This lake is 129 acres in size. It is 30.00 feet deep at its deepest point. Anglers can expect to catch a variety of fish including Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rock Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Sunfish, Walleye and Yellow Perch.

Little Wolf Lake is located in Oscoda County, Michigan. This lake is 92 acres in size. Anglers can expect to catch a variety of fish including Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Sunfish and Yellow Perch. The lake also has a State Forest Campground (rustic site).

McCormick Lake is north and east of Lewiston, in the headwaters of the Thunder Bay River. It is a large lake with only a few homes on it. It's great for fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and bird watching has a boat launch site and ample parking lot with an outhouse.

Snyder Lake is located in Oscoda County, Michigan. This lake is 153 acres in size. It is 22.00 feet deep at its deepest point. Anglers can expect to catch a variety of fish including Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye and Yellow Perch.

Tee Lake is located in Oscoda County, Michigan. This lake is 216 acres in size. It is 70.00 feet deep at its deepest point. Anglers can expect to catch a variety of fish including Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Muskellunge (Muskie), Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye and Yellow Perch. Public access is available.

West Twin Lake is located in Montmorency County, Michigan. This lake is 1,313 acres in size. It is 28.00 feet deep at its deepest point. Anglers can expect to catch a variety of fish including Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Panfish, Walleye and Yellow Perch.

The Au Sable River lies just to the south of Lewiston, extending from its headwaters near Grayling to Lake Huron in the town of Oscoda. This is a perfect river for both canoeing and fishing. Canoe liveries can be found in Grayling, Parmalee and Mio. A dam in Mio creates a few miles of wider, deeper water, with picturesque shoreline views. Five separate sections of the Au Sable tributary system have been designated as Blue Ribbon Trout Streams by the Michigan DNR, totaling 79 miles of river habitat. The Au Sable is noted as one of the best brown trout habitats in the state.

The Thunder Bay River headwaters lie just to the north of Lewiston, near McCormick Lake. It flows though the small towns of Atlanta and Hillman before emptying into Lake Huron in downtown Alpena. Many of its upper tributaries, such as Hunt Creek and Gilchrist Creek provide good trout fishing. Canoeing is possible starting from Atlanta or Hillman, however this is a faster, shallower river than the Au Sable.

Spotting an elk in the wild is a wonderful experience. Seeing a group of elk together is spectacular and breathtaking. The process of looking for elk is an adventure into some of Michigan's most beautiful country. But there's no guarantee you, or your passenger will see one every time you try. If you haven't tried it but want to, here are some tips worth knowing.

Michigan Elk are located predominantly in the area north of M-32 with Hillman to the east, Gaylord to the west and Wolverine and Onaway to the north. It includes the Pigeon River State Forest.

From Lewiston, the easiest access to elk viewing is to drive north on Meridian Line Road until it forks left onto Black River Road. Black River Road ends at Blue Lakes Road. If you head west on Blue Lakes, you will drive into the Pigeon River Forest. East of Black River Road, elk are commonly viewed off Camp 30 Road, Growler Club Road, and Tow Line Lake Road. North of Atlanta about three miles is Voyer Lake Rd which goes east off M-33. Elk viewing is popular in this area off Stevens Springs Rd.

A county road map is a great tool in plotting your trip and is available at most local gas stations. Bring a camera and binoculars too. If your vehicle does not have a directional compass, bring one of those too. A lot of the roads wind and turn in varying directions, making it easy to get turned around.

The optimal time to see elk is just after first light in the morning or the final hours before dark. Elk will seek out pastures to feed and are most easily spotted on the edge of large open fields, or gas well clearings.

Bull elk shed their antlers every year usually the end of March. They begin to grow new antlers almost immediately. By summer, the new antlers are covered in velvet.

In addition, Shady Acres is a commercial campground just a few short miles south of Lewiston. Shady Acres features full hookups and is open year around. For more complete information go to: www.lewistonshadyacres.com

We want to thank all the "generous" "generous" people in Lewiston and the surrounding area that supported our Elk Country Animal Shelter "Dave Clark's Stuff the Truck" event yesterday. You knocked it out of the park again yesterday Lewiston. Very successful event! And thank you to Family Fare for supporting this Event for the Animal Shelter and your Community! Super job done by our volunteers too; thank you all.

There's a lot going on the weekend of July 19th. Be sure and mark your calendar for the Summer Beach Party, beginning at 5:00 pm. There will be music by Sneaky Peat and Nightfall, great food, and games for kids of all ages. Admission is free.

Just a reminder to everyone - The early registration deadline for the Timbertown Festival 3on3 Basketball Tournament is July 19. If you want the early bird team price of $70 and t-shirts you must register by July 19th. After that the rate is $90 per team and the players DO NOT GET T-SHIRTS. For registration go to - www.Lewistonchamber.com

Lewiston is a dynamite area for running, jogging or walking. There are lots of different trails and routes to suit everyone. It is approximately a 10K around East Twin Lake and just short of a half marathon around both East and West Twin Lakes. Buttles road trails offer fabulous trail running. In addition there are miles of lightly trafficked gravel roads in and around Lewiston.

It all culminates with the Timberfest Fun Run on the first Saturday of August. This Fun Run is part of the larger Timberfest activities that weekend and begins at 8 am. There is a 5K and a 10K. Both runs begin and end in downtown Lewiston. The 5K is a double lap that takes you past the Township beach on East Twin Lake. The 10K takes you around East Twin Lake and has a couple of challenging hills. Everyone is welcome whether you are a serious runner, run just for the fun of it or even want to walk.

Dreaming of catching some trout? It doesn't matter if you like trolling spoons, bait casting, spin casting or the quiet solitude of fly fishing, the Lewiston area offers a variety of waters to suit your style. Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout or Brook Trout can be found in Sage Lake, McCormick Lake, Avery Lake or Big Bear Lake. Some of the area creeks holding these beauties are Gilchrist Creek, Crooked Creek and Hunt Creek (below the Fisheries Research Center). And, if you choose to travel a little farther from town, you will find world class trout fishing on the AuSable River. Wake up, grab your gear and head to Lewiston for the chance to catch that trophy fish you've been dreaming of!

Rural isolation has its benefits. Being miles away from any major metropolitan area gives northeast Michigan a unique advantage for those who enjoy the mysteries revealed in the night sky. Our lack of concentrated light pollutions makes the cosmos appear crisp and clear. Even in the middle of Lewiston you can clearly see all the constellations of the northern hemisphere.

Dark lands can be found in many areas in and around Lewiston where light emissions are very low. Stars, meteors, planets and moons await your discovery.

At night, the sky illuminates with the incredible glow of the Milky Way. Take your telescope, camera, or just your family and take in a light show the level of which only Mother Nature can provide. If you're lucky you may even be dazzled by the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights.